Idler recoil and adjustment system for track type work machine

Abstract

A track type work machine is provided including a roller frame having a rotatable idler mounted at an end thereof. A gas spring is operable to absorb selected loads on the idler, and is isolated from loads transverse to a reciprocation axis of the gas spring by a recoil system. A method of providing for load absorption from the idler is also provided. The method includes positioning a gas spring between the idler and a roller frame of the work machine, and operably coupling the idler to the gas spring to selectively transmit loads from the idler thereto.

1. A track type work machine comprising:
 a roller frame; 
 a rotatable idler mounted proximate an end of said roller frame and being movable along a recoil axis with respect to the same; and 
 a plural component recoil system operably positioned between said roller frame and said idler and including a gas spring having a reciprocation axis aligned with said recoil axis; 
 said gas spring being coupled with said idler and operable to absorb selected loads thereon, at least one component of said recoil system being configured to slip relative to another component of said recoil system to isolate said gas spring from loads within said recoil system which are transverse to said reciprocation axis. 
 
   
   
     2. The track type work machine of  claim 1  comprising:
 an idler yoke supporting a shaft of said idler, said idler yoke being movable transverse to the reciprocation axis of said gas spring; and 
 an adjuster disposed between said gas spring and said idler yoke and operable to adjust a relative horizontal position therebetween; 
 said gas spring being unattached but coupled with said adjuster and said idler yoke by a contact joint defined in part by at least one of said gas spring, said adjuster and said idler yoke. 
 
   
   
     3. The track type work machine of  claim 2  comprising:
 at least one recoil shaft mounted on said roller frame to transmit loads between said idler and said gas spring; 
 said recoil shaft including a contact joint with at least one of said idler yoke, adjuster and gas spring, said contact joint comprising a convex portion on one of said recoil shaft, idler yoke, adjuster and gas spring. 
 
   
   
     4. The track type work machine of  claim 3  wherein said gas spring comprises a piston axially aligned with said at least one recoil shaft, said piston defining a portion of a contact joint between said gas spring and said adjuster. 
   
   
     5. The track type work machine of  claim 1  comprising at least one contact joint between components of said idler recoil system, said at least one contact joint being configured to allow said slip and including adjacent joint surfaces of the at least one component of said idler recoil system and the another component of said idler recoil system. 
   
   
     6. The track type work machine of  claim 5  wherein said plural component recoil system comprises:
 an idler yoke; 
 a reciprocable shaft disposed between said idler yoke and said gas spring; and 
 an adjuster also disposed between said idler yoke and said gas spring and configured to adjust relative positions thereof; 
 wherein said at least one contact joint comprises a contact joint between at least one of, said idler yoke and said reciprocable shaft, said adjuster and said gas spring, and said reciprocable shaft and said adjuster. 
 
   
   
     7. A track type work machine comprising:
 a roller frame; 
 a rotatable idler mounted proximate an end of said roller frame and being movable alone a recoil axis with respect to the same; and 
 a plural component recoil system operably positioned between said roller frame and said idler and including a gas spring having a reciprocation axis aligned with said recoil axis; 
 said gas spring being coupled with said idler and operable to absorb selected loads thereon, at least one component of said recoil system being configured to slip relative to another component of said recoil system to isolate said gas spring from loads within said recoil system transverse to said reciprocation axis; 
 an idler yoke supporting a shaft of said idler, said idler yoke being movable transverse to the reciprocation axis of said gas spring; 
 an adjuster disposed between said gas spring and said idler yoke and operable to adjust a relative horizontal position therebetween; 
 said gas spring being unattached but coupled with said adjuster and said idler yoke by a contact joint defined in part by at least one of said gas spring, said adjuster and said idler yoke; 
 at least one recoil shaft mounted on said roller frame to transmit loads between said idler and said gas spring; 
 said recoil shaft including a contact joint with at least one of said idler yoke, adjuster and gas spring, said contact joint comprising a convex portion on one of said recoil shaft, idler yoke, adjuster and gas spring; 
 an adjuster guide mounted to said roller frame, said adjuster guide restricting rotation and lateral displacement of said adjuster in directions transverse to said reciprocation axis; 
 wherein one or both of said adjuster and said adjuster guide defines at least one groove slidably engageable with a mating feature on the other of said adjuster and said adjuster guide. 
 
   
   
     8. The track type work machine of  claim 7  wherein:
 said adjuster guide comprises first and second guide plates disposed on opposite sides of said adjuster; and 
 said adjuster is rectangular and comprises grooves along opposite sides thereof, each of said grooves slidably receiving an edge of said first or second guide plate. 
 
   
   
     9. An idler recoil system for a work machine comprising:
 an idler yoke; 
 a reciprocable shaft having a longitudinal axis and being coupled with said idler yoke at a contact joint; 
 said contact joint including adjacent joint surfaces configured to transfer loads aligned with said longitudinal axis and being laterally movable relative to one another in directions transverse to said longitudinal axis to isolate said shaft from selected loads on said idler yoke; and 
 a gas spring having a reciprocation axis aligned with said longitudinal axis, said gas spring operable to absorb loads transmitted to said shaft from said idler yoke. 
 
   
   
     10. The idler recoil system of  claim 9  comprising an adjuster slidably disposed between said gas spring and said idler yoke, said adjuster operable to adjust a position of said gas spring relative to said idler yoke and defining a portion of a contact joint therebetween. 
   
   
     11. The idler recoil system of  claim 10  comprising:
 an adjuster guide guiding movement of said adjuster and restricting rotation and displacement of the same in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of said recoil shaft. 
 
   
   
     12. An idler recoil system for a work machine comprising:
 an idler yoke: 
 a reciprocable shaft having a longitudinal axis and being coupled with said idler yoke at a contact joint: 
 said contact joint including adjacent joint surfaces laterally movable relative to one another to isolate said shaft from selected loads on said idler yoke: 
 a gas spring having a reciprocation axis aligned with said longitudinal axis, said gas spring operable to absorb loads transmitted to said shaft from said idler yoke; 
 an adjuster slidably disposed between said gas spring and said idler yoke, said adjuster operable to adjust a position of said gas spring relative to said idler yoke and defining a portion of a contact joint therebetween; 
 an adjuster guide guiding movement of said adjuster and restricting rotation and displacement of the same in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of said recoil shaft; 
 wherein at least one of said adjuster and said adjuster guide includes a groove and the other of said adjuster and adjuster guide comprises an edge portion slidable in said groove. 
 
   
   
     13. The idler recoil system of  claim 12  comprising a contact joint defined in part by said adjuster and also in part by a piston of said gas spring. 
   
   
     14. The idler recoil system of  claim 13  wherein said gas spring defines a reciprocation axis oriented coaxially with said recoil shaft. 
   
   
     15. The idler recoil system of  claim 14  comprising:
 a roller frame; 
 a rotatable idler mounted in said idler yoke proximate an end of said roller frame, said idler having a center position; 
 wherein at said center position an axis of rotation of said idler is oriented orthogonal to and intersects a line extending through said gas spring reciprocation axis. 
 
   
   
     16. The idler recoil system of  claim 15  wherein said gas spring is a removable gas spring comprising a gas exchange valve to adjust a gas pressure thereof. 
   
   
     17. A method of providing for load absorption from an idler in a track type work machine comprising the steps of:
 operably positioning a gas spring between the idler and a roller frame of the work machine to absorb loads on the idler, in a direction aligned with a reciprocation axis of the gas spring; and 
 isolating the gas spring from loads transverse to the reciprocation axis, including allowing slip between adjacent components of an idler recoil system of the work machine in directions transverse to the reciprocation axis. 
 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 17  comprising the step of pressurizing the gas spring to a predetermined quantity such that displacement of the gas spring is initiated only upon transmitting a selected load approximately equal to or greater than a weight of the work machine. 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of positioning the gas spring between the idler and the roller frame comprises:
 positioning a cylindrical gas spring between the idler and the roller frame, the gas spring having a diameter less than or equal to a width of a track of the work machine, and a length less than a length of the roller frame. 
 
   
   
     20. A method of providing for load absorption from an idler in a track type work machine comprising the steps of:
 operably positioning a gas spring between the idler and a roller frame of the work machine to absorb loads on the idler, in a direction aligned with a reciprocation axis of the gas spring; 
 isolating the gas spring from loads transverse to the reciprocation axis; 
 pressurizing the gas spring to a predetermined quantity such that displacement of the gas spring is initiated only upon transmitting a selected load approximately equal to or greater than a weight of the work machine; 
 wherein the step of positioning the gas spring between the idler and the roller frame comprises: positioning a cylindrical gas spring between the idler and the roller frame, the gas spring having a diameter less than or equal to a width of a track of the work machine, and a length less than a length of the roller frame; 
 positioning an adjuster between the gas spring and the idler, wherein the adjuster is operable to adjust a relative position between the same; and 
 installing a stop on the roller frame to limit horizontal displacement of the adjuster in a direction aligned with an axis of reciprocation of the gas spring, wherein the stop limits compression of the gas spring to a predetermined degree.